INTERVIEW JUNE 2020
Sergio D. Velázquez, is the CEO of BlackFins Diving, a company dedicated to training in technical diving in the modalities of sidemount, cave diving, wrecks and deep. Currently, Sergio is based on the Island of Malta and works as an instructor of instructors (Technical Instructor Trainer), in one of the most prestigious and extensive certifiers in the diving industry, such as IANTD.
Let's start at the beginning. What would be your definition of technical diving for a neophyte?
Without entering into international standards, any dive that is carried out with a roof, whether real or virtual, is technical diving, since this leads to prior planning, where every aspect of said dive is calculated in detail, in relation to the gases to be used. times, depths, contingencies, safety protocols, decompression profile, etc.
In this matter I am quite cautious when expressing myself, because I believe that to do technical diving we need a physical condition according to the physical effort that we will make, for our own safety, we will have to carry heavy equipment, swim against the current, do long hours of decompression, etc. ., not everything is as we see it in the photos, clear and calm waters. And this is regardless of whether you are male or female.
The current market is saturated with acronyms such as PADI, IANTD, GUE, UTD, RAID, TDI, etc. That can create confusion due to excess information to the beginner looking for answers. What would be the first recommendation that you would make?
That they look for real references from the instructor who has experience, how many years he has been teaching in the market, independent of the agency.
That they look for real references from the instructor who has experience, how many years he has been teaching in the market, independent of the agency.
In the technical field, there is also a lot of competition between certifying agencies. What does IANTD do to mark distances with the rest?
IANTD was the first technical diving agency, with a history of 35 years, basically it is not about setting distance with the rest but working in what we believe in, training committed and safe divers, which is the most important thing, whether they are technical divers, cave or recreational.
Your change of residence to Malta was for commercial reasons. What makes this small island such a suitable place for technical diving at all levels?
Basically Malta has a huge amount of Wrecks ranging from 35 to 120 meters and more, the market here is important for the offer of dives in such a small place. We also have many diving centers with infrastructure to serve this type of diver.
Your change of residence to Malta was for commercial reasons. What makes this small island such a suitable place for technical diving at all levels?
Basically Malta has a huge amount of Wrecks ranging from 35 to 120 meters and more, the market here is important for the offer of dives in such a small place. We also have many diving centers with infrastructure to serve this type of diver.
The official language of Malta is English and Maltese. Don't you think that could be a “handicap” for the Spanish diver to dare to take courses in Malta?
For my part, and to be honest, I feel more comfortable giving a course in Spanish or Portuguese than in English. I think I bring much more fluidity to the content, and how you express yourself is important so that learning is more dynamic.
For your courses you have twin bottles and sidemount, indistinctly. Could you tell us the purpose and difference between the two?
All the courses that I give I do with the configuration that the student wishes, I usually recommend the type of configuration that is more in line with the type of immersion that the person is going to do in the future and also depending on the personal characteristics of the individual. I do not opt for any particular configuration, it depends on what I said above, I particularly feel comfortable with both a double bottle and sidemount, without favoritism, I choose the configuration according to the dive to be made.
What do you expect from a student who decides to do some training with you?
Commitment, attitude and open mind.
Does the candidate need to demonstrate some skills before entering one of your courses, whether it is a beginner or not?
From a simple open water course for me the candidate has to demonstrate aquatic skills, and if he is going to take a technical diving course or caves those skills will have to be excellent, as well as he will have to be psychologically prepared to face certain environments.
There are certifiers such as IANTD, GUE and UTD for example, which incorporate the use of Helium from the beginning, due to its known advantages. However, most agencies do not do it and promote training at similar depths with other gases that are not so suitable. Do you think that technical diving without the use of Helium is somewhat contradictory?
A deep dive with helium is much safer than one done with air, in terms of the narcotic potential of the mixture, but it is an issue that I prefer not to comment on, diving since the 80s, I started in technical diving and caves at the beginning of the 90s, I have been an instructor for more than 20 years, so I have my opinion formed and that can hurt susceptibilities.
Interview By Caco Pradas
